Chinese brands free of rip-off designs?

[rodia77]

你好。

Not that I'm going to throw myself into the sea of Chinese watches right away, but I want to gather more info on how to navigate the waters safely.

My first probe was here.

Now, I sometimes get really impressed by Chinese watch designs -- only to find out sooner or later that they are blatant imitations of someone else's. And the scale of this is such that I don't even care to check anymore, I just nod and assume this or that watch I like already exists somewhere in its genuine iteration. My question then -- are there Chinese brands whose watches I can browse without worrying of picking a copy rather than an original?

[Martin]

I know what you mean, I had the same disappointment with a few of the ones I bought thinking it was an original, or at least just slightly inspired. But to be honest, I have the same with Japanese brands, and many microbrands.

The safest one to go for, in my opinion, is Beijing. http://en.beijingwatch.com/index
Here is a reliable source for the more common models. http://www.good-stuffs.com/BJWAF_c_10.html

Another option is this Chinese boutique brand: https://maisonceladon.com/

I think Shanghai is also rather save, but I don't know all of their current offerings

[rodia77]

Another option is this Chinese boutique brand: https://maisonceladon.com/

This might be the first dress watch I wouldn't mind snatching. Or a rock gig watch, depending on how you look at it.

Ismy, TBH I don't know where I could be more specific -- even the thread's title itself basically says it all. (I didn't qualify it positively as 'Chinese brand with original designs' because I think some of them -- eg Sea-Gull? correct me if I'm wrong -- have a mix of original and copied designs, and I want to keep it simple and not to turn into a full-time private eye: you do rip-offs, you're out of my list).

And to answer your specific question: modern, not vintage.

[is that my watch]

This might be the first dress watch I wouldn't mind snatching. Or a rock gig watch, depending on how you look at it.

Ismy, TBH I don't know where I could be more specific -- even the thread's title itself basically says it all. (I didn't qualify it positively as 'Chinese brand with original designs' because I think some of them -- eg Sea-Gull? correct me if I'm wrong -- have a mix of original and copied designs, and I want to keep it simple and not to turn into a full-time private eye: you do rip-offs, you're out of my list).

And to answer your specific question: modern, not vintage.

just when you said rip of design and such like to me could not see where you was coming from as saskwatch said in his post "I can't think of any brand, Chinese or otherwise, which doesn't incorporate preexisting design elements in their watches. "

but then the one you list is nice and not cheap being limited to 50pcs per type ...

if I was going to start with modern ones as I said early I would look here as their are all sorts and price points from £30 to over £500 pound ones

http://www.good-stuffs.com/

[Seriously]

Now, I sometimes get really impressed by Chinese watch designs -- only to find out sooner or later that they are blatant imitations of someone else's

Lol:
http://en.beijingwatch.com/item/138

Lol:
http://en.beijingwatch.com/item/137

[saskwatch]

I can't think of any brand, Chinese or otherwise, which doesn't incorporate preexisting design elements in their watches. In the case of many Chinese companies, I suspect the more derivative models help to pay the bills to allow production of more experimental watches.

That said, there are some stunning watches produced by smaller watchmakers. Martin's suggestion, Maison Celadon, was a good one. https://maisonceladon.com/pages/our-watches

Much of Shanghai's recent output has been homages to one watch or another.

[Martin]

Lol:
http://en.beijingwatch.com/item/138

Lol:
http://en.beijingwatch.com/item/137

Replica of an airforce clock:

[Seriously]

Replica of an airforce clock:

They’ve changed the links now, but you ‘got’ the watch I thought it was plagiarising didn’t you? ... an ‘extra special’ one ?

[Martin]

They’ve changed the links now, but you ‘got’ the watch I thought it was plagiarising didn’t you? ... an ‘extra special’ one ?

Not sure which one. You mean this one?

or..

[is that my watch]

Replica of an airforce clock:

one does not really look like the other thou does it passing resemblance at most most now if they had done Russian a lot closer a T34 tank clock say ..